Igor V. Babailov, Hon.RAA, KStA
Group Portraits and Multifigure Murals
For Gold, God and Glory
Portrait of Christopher Columbus
Included in Peruvian Encyclopedia on discoveries of the Americas
For Gold, God and Glory - Portrait of Christopher Columbus
(Oil on Canvas, 70"x79"), Copyright © by Igor Babailov.
At work on "For Gold, God and Glory" in 1992.
THE STORY
"For Gold, God and Glory" (Oil on Canvas, 70"x79")
is the artist’s own rendition of the arrival of Christopher
Columbus and his crew in the Americas.
There were only several portraits of Columbus painted in the History of Art and they all looked like portraits of different people because nobody knew exactly what Columbus looked like. Igor Babailov created “his own” Columbus and based his depiction of features on the biographical description written by Columbus’s son.
Mr. Babailov used no models, but set up a mirror with one source of light and used his own image in the mirror to create expressions and hand positions for subjects in the painting.
Preparation for the painting also involved historical research including investigation into the clothing and the fashion of that period.
Igor Babailov portrayed Christopher Columbus to honor all those before him that came to make this continent their home.
Painting's CLOSEUPS
Every face is created entirely from the Artist's Imagination. Mr. Babailov used no models, but set up a mirror with one source of light and used his own image in the mirror to create expressions and hand positions for subjects in the painting.
Featured in numerous publications, including:
Peruvian Encyclopedia, Empresa Editora Il Comercio, S.A. (2004)
PRIMO - Italian-American Magazine (2001)
and many others ...